Aston Villa vs Brentford Post-Match Thread

[DC1874]

Spot on, life is all about taking advantage of opportunities when they present themselves - miss this one and we might look back in a decades time at some of the examples since December where we let ourselves down (Manure away, Spuds at home, yesterday) and think "if only"

[tomd2103]

After vowing to stay away from the match threads for mental reasons I can see I made the right choice yesterday. Some very rational comments but the toxicity from others just seems to stoke people up. Having watched the game it wasn’t as bad as the comments made it sound and to actually get a point from that situation shows some character. It’s frustrating in the moment to see the team make mistakes but moaning and spitting the dummy out surely just exacerbates it. Somebody mentioned Mark Goodridge?!? The other night who I wasn’t aware of until I google him. I watched and although it did make me smile I also found it quite disturbing that I may act like that when watching.

Anyway after the result I stayed away and let things settle. Things really aren’t that bad considering the progress we’ve made since UE arrived, 4th would be amazing but maybe that might be a step too far with the squad we have. God knows what the comments would be like if we qualified and had a season like Newcastle. I’d gladly take a smaller step forward from last season if it meant we got stronger overall.

That’s fair the only point I’d make it that the smaller step to a stronger position overall is far from a guarantee, especially with the FFP situation. It might be this is the opportunity and if we miss it that’s potentially it. We don’t know, but my gut feel is we need it now to consolidate our position.

Sorry, but I just don't quite see how being in the Champions League is going to massively impact on FFP situation unless we are in it on a regular basis.  One season in it would help the current 3 year FFP cycle, but surely we would have to be in it on a regular basis for it to have a big impact?

Of course it would be great to be in it next season and I hope we can get there.

[VillaTim]

If we qualify for the UCL then the commercial team can fill their Boots negotiating better longer contracts with sponsors so it would help for that regardless of qualifying again next season .

[Ads]

Spot on, life is all about taking advantage of opportunities when they present themselves - miss this one and we might look back in a decades time at some of the examples since December where we let ourselves down (Manure away, Spuds at home, yesterday) and think "if only"

Never mind the 18 occasions so far we have taken opportunities when presented this season.

[mrfuse]

MOTD correctly highlighted both Carlos and Torres terrible positional sense for both Goals but I thought Konsa was really poor. He didn't seem to make any attempt to stop the ball coming in for 2 of the goals and he should have tucked in for the first goal as Lucas Digne had ended up at right back for their first goal.
Konsa is a top central defender but is not good enough at this level to play right back. Carlos has his moments but has mainly been disappointing. I'm a massive fan of Torres but off the ball he needs to sharpen up, When he is partnered with a proper central defender he is far more comfortable.

[PaulWinch again]

Right, but that’s heavily weighted to the first half of the season isn’t it? That was an incredible run and we were brilliant, but since the turn of the year it’s been a lot more shaky. Clearly there are a number of factors involved in that, but it’d be a shame to let it slip.

[PeterWithe]

I think Carlos 'looks' like a good defender as he's strong and pulls off last ditch tackles, he did it a few times yesterday. But better defenders don't need to make those tackles as they would have seen the danger earlier and positioned themselves better for getting in an earlier block or interception. I make him perfectly acceptable for a back up centre half.

[VillaTim]

The other thing we are starting to find out is which players can play under top end pressure at the business end of the season. It's new territory for them all. (Bar Martinez) .

[Villan82]

Spot on, life is all about taking advantage of opportunities when they present themselves - miss this one and we might look back in a decades time at some of the examples since December where we let ourselves down (Manure away, Spuds at home, yesterday) and think "if only"

Maybe some of us want to enjoy the good times while we are experiencing them? We spent the MON years wanting more and then ending up in the Championship would have given a left arm to go back to the days of being top 6.

I want to enjoy us challenging at the top end of the table this time rather than spending it wishing we were third or whatever.

[Forge10]

I was more on about the squads strength in depth with qualifying for the Champions league. I guess though any European Qualification will stress the squad anyway. The FFP situation is beyond my comprehension, I struggle with that kind of thing so just rely on other peoples perceptions/explanations. I think the main point was was trying to highlight though is that watching the game whilst following a thread when things don’t go quite to plan usually results in upset and or catastrophising. Looking at other forums it’s no different and to me proves to be quite cathartic.

[Forge10]

Spot on, life is all about taking advantage of opportunities when they present themselves - miss this one and we might look back in a decades time at some of the examples since December where we let ourselves down (Manure away, Spuds at home, yesterday) and think "if only"

Maybe some of us want to enjoy the good times while we are experiencing them? We spent the MON years wanting more and then ending up in the Championship would have given a left arm to go back to the days of being top 6.

I want to enjoy us challenging at the top end of the table this time rather than spending it wishing we were third or whatever.

Spot on, I think these sentiments are only recognised by many after the dust has settled. I see a mix on here,a few who remain positive, a lot of knee jerk reaction(myself included, that’s why came off on match days) and some that keep quiet. That’s a forum though I guess, would be pretty dull if everybody had the same thoughts. It’s very interesting to sit back and pick these dynamics up and realise where you sit 😂

[Forge10]

Whatever happens between now and the end of the season we’ve progressed massively since relegation and indeed since UE took reign.

[RamboandBruno]

Right, but that’s heavily weighted to the first half of the season isn’t it? That was an incredible run and we were brilliant, but since the turn of the year it’s been a lot more shaky. Clearly there are a number of factors involved in that, but it’d be a shame to let it slip.

If this end of the season was as heavily weighted as the first half of the season, we’d be winning the league. Emery has worked wonders, but that would of been literally a miracle from where Gerard left us.
It will be disappointing not to get 4th if (still a big if) it doesn’t  happen, but 4th or 5th is a big leap from 7th last year, which in itself was a big leap from where we had been for like ever.

[ChicagoLion]

Whatever happens between now and the end of the season we’ve progressed massively since relegation and indeed since UE took reign.

Absolutely, its an amazing turnaround, but it’s still going to be disappointing if we don’t get CL this season.
A combination of injuries and fatigue has done for us but we know Emery will be doing everything to make this season a success.
I do wonder if attention now focuses on the Conference.

[RamboandBruno]

Whatever happens between now and the end of the season we’ve progressed massively since relegation and indeed since UE took reign.

Absolutely, its an amazing turnaround, but it’s still going to be disappointing if we don’t get CL this season.
A combination of injuries and fatigue has done for us but we know Emery will be doing everything to make this season a success.
I do wonder if attention now focuses on the Conference.

Unless we have a collapse and man utd somehow go on a a run, which will hopefully be champions league. But Thursday does seem huge.